Wearing "blast from the past" retro uniforms the Oregon Ducks detonated on both sides of the ball against California, putting an emphatic 42-3 crater in the middle of the Bear's #6 ranking.

The temptation is to rave about the offense that rediscovered its stride but it was again Oregon's defense that controlled this game, literally from the opening kickoff. Walter Thurmond fumbled on the return and California was on Oregon's 21 ten seconds after the cameras turned on. The Bears kicked a 49 yard field goal after losing yardage on each of their three prior plays. Then consider that Cal didn't set foot inside the Oregon 20 all afternoon. After starting on the Oregon 21!

It was that good.

California may have been untested bringing a 3-0 record into Autzen but few would have foreseen Oregon's complete lockdown of California running back Jahvid Best. Sixteen carries netted 55 yards and a tough afternoon's work for the Heisman candidate. With no running game to rely upon quarterback Kevin Riley was hit hard and hit often by the Duck defense. The 207 total yards allowed is a staggering number to pin on a team, but Oregon's defense did just that. Riley ended the day 13-36 for 130 yards.

Point made, Oregon's offense deserves the raves. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and tight end Ed Dickson ignited the Duck's anemic passing attack, combining for 148 yards of real estate and three touchdowns. Masoli connected on 21 of 25 attempts and 288 yards without an interception.

Oregon's offensive line continued to pave the way for the running game. Running back by committee yielded 41 carries and 212 yards. LaMicheal James again the main benefactor with 118 of those yards, but Remene Alston, Kenjon Barner and Andre Crenshaw each earned playing time after attracting notice on the practice field.

"He started to flash a little bit this week in practice," said Oregon head coach Chip Kelly of Alston. "He proved this week in practice we had to give him playing time. I told him before the game ?you're going to play today'."

Ball security was the only shortcoming to Oregon's day. Thanks to the defense, the three fumbles lost by the Ducks weren't an issue on this day. After spending the summer working with LaGarrette Blount, it is reasonable to recognize that the opportunity to mishandle the ball in the backfield would increase. A month into the season now the ball can not continue to hit the turf at the rate it has so far.

After holding the Bears to their opening trey, Oregon tied the score with a 30 yard Morgan Flint field goal.

Masoli and Dickson connected on the first of their touchdowns on the opening play of the second quarter. First offering a shoulder fake into the middle of the defense, Masoli tempted the right cornerback into giving a step to Dickson down the sideline. The throw was to the fingertips and Oregon had the lead.

Lining up in a swinging gate formation for the point after attempt, holder/backup quarterback Nate Costa took the direct snap and fired a pass to kicker Morgan Flint who had lined up in the slot. Flint stepped through a pair of blockers for an easy two point conversion and Oregon had the lead 11-3. Game over.

Oregon's defense pinned back their ears and forced quick possessions and the Duck offense kept Best on the sidelines and built on their lead, putting together scoring drives of 80, 80, 58, 48, 70, 96, and 45 yards.

"That's the Jeremiah Masoli I know," said Kelly of his often second guessed quarterback. "That's why we didn't bench Jeremiah Masoli. He's 11-3 as a starter at the University of Oregon. He was the MVP of the Holiday Bowl. He did the same thing last year. played against UCLA and went five for nineteen. Came out the next week and went seventeen for twenty-six and was the Pac-10 player of the week. Our confidence in Jeremiah is based upon demonstrated ability. I had all the confidence in the world going into today that he was going to have a day like that."

Confidence well placed it seems and that's the situation Oregon finds itself - confident and well placed in the early Pac-10 race - heading into a match-up with the hapless Washington State Cougars next Saturday evening at Autzen Stadium. That preseason notion that Oregon's schedule sets up advantageously may do just exactly that.